About the Text
(1) Didn't Herod die soon after Jesus was born? Who is this Herod the tetrarch? Yes, Herod did die a couple of years after Jesus' birth, around 2 BC (cf. Matt. 2:19). That was Herod the Great. The Herod in Matthew 14 is Herod Antipas (as known in history books), one of the many sons of Herod the Great. As correctly recorded by Matthew, Herod Antipas was a tetrarch, that is, the ruler of a fourth of the region that his father ruled. Mthough a tetrarch has little power compared to Herod the Great, he nevertheless had enough authority to execute anyone he wished.
Herod the Great had another son, Philip, whom Matthew mentions in his account. Philip married Herodias and bore a daughter named Salome, born in 22 AD. According to the Roman Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Herod Antipas the tetrarch fell madly in love with Herodias, stole her from his half-brother Philip, and married her.
Such scandalous affairs are the marks of the world. Herod
the Great married ten times, killed two of his sons, and killed one of his wives. The life
of the monarchy was filled with intrigue, scandal, revenge, lust, cruelty, brutality, and
violence. These still mark our world today.
(5) Why did Herod the tetrarch want to kill John the Baptist when in Mark 6, Herod
"protected him"? Herod wanted to kill John for being so outspoken
against Herod's marriage. But two matters held him back. First, Herod found John's words
interesting, though not enough to actually believe in them. Second, he feared an uprising
among the many followers of John the Baptist.
(7) Why did Herod offer to give so much to Herodias' daughter? For one
thing, he was probably drunk. Typically in the ancient world, birthday feasts of this kind
were simply wild. There was much drinking and erotic dancing (sounds familiar today?). And
if this daughter was the Salome of Roman history, then she would only be a young teenager
at this time. Imagine, a young teenage girl doing a striptease before Herod. He was so
sexually aroused (cf. "pleased" in verse 6) that he foolishly and impulsively
offered her anything.
(13) Where did Jesus go after hearing of this incident, and why? Jesus
was in the region of Galilee, where Herod the tetrarch ruled. He probably took a small
boat upon the Sea of Galilee.
Why? If John the Baptist wasn't afraid of Herod, Jesus
certainly wouldn't. Therefore, it was not out of fear, but rather out of protection for
Himself and his disciples that he withdrew to a remote, solitary place. For it was not yet
Jesus' time to die.
(20) Why do some scholars say that this was no miracle, and that each of the 5,000
merely shared their hidden stash of bread when they saw the example of Jesus?
Because they are unbelievers. They presuppose that miracles can't happen, so they concoct
such a speculative explanation to this story.
It was truly a miracle. First, the context has to do with miracles. He healed in verse 14, and walked on water in verse 26. Second, there is no mention of people having a hidden stash of bread. Third, in John's gospel (John 6:14) this was recorded as a genuine miracle.
Key Memory Verse
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Insights
The world often opposes the work of God with violence.
Violent opposition never stops God's work through Jesus Christ.
The Bottom Line
Do not fear the opposition, no matter how violent
they may be. If you are a growing believer of Jesus Christ, you will experience
all kinds of attacks from the world and from Satan, to discourage you from the faith. But
do not fear. God uses such attacks as a prelude to an awesome display of His power in your
life.